Wildlife Trust report highlights impact of peatland research

Research into peatland and carbon storage is yielding real-world results for sustainability, according to a new report. 

The Wildlife Trusts’ report, Wild Science, highlights Manchester Metropolitan’s Care-Peat project with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, which focused on re-wetting drained peat soils. 

Greenhouse gas emissions from degraded peat soils are some of the biggest contributors to the UK’s land-based carbon emissions. In 2020, carbon emissions from drained agricultural peatlands in England were estimated at 8.5 million tonnes, which is around 3% of England’s overall emissions.  

Re-wetting drained peat soil reduces carbon emissions, helping to restore damaged peat bogs so that they can secure their existing carbon stores and begin to accumulate carbon, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. 

Working with Lancashire Wildlife Trust at the Winmarleigh Moss Carbon Farm near Preston, Manchester Met researchers found that rewetting peatland saves between 20 and 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per hectare, per year in comparison to a drained peatland that is grazed by sheep.  

In addition to re-wetting the peat and assessing the impact on carbon storage, researchers also studied at the financial viability of carbon farming, developing an economic model for farm carbon income assessment which found that, in addition to the positive environmental impacts, carbon farming can also have a financial benefit to farmers. 

Dr Chris Field, Reader in Environmental Ecology at Manchester Metropolitan, said: “Our work with the Wildlife Trusts highlights the key role of research in working towards sustainability. 

“From greenhouse gas monitoring to economic modelling, this project brought together key strands of research to demonstrate solutions that can be implemented to restore peatland and store carbon in a way that is as economically viable as it is sustainable. 

“Our work with Lancashire Wildlife Trust continues with our involvement in Paulus Demos, a Horizon Europe project which aims to show how paludiculture can preserve peat soils, provide economic opportunities for farmers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” 

Nigel Doar, Head of Science and Research at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “As the nature and climate crises deepen, the work that goes on to understand the true value of the natural world to human beings, or to discover how best to bring about effective action for its recovery, is more vital now than it has ever been. 

“It is increasingly important that people have a clear and accurate view of how things are changing, what the consequences are for human beings and the natural world, and how things can be improved.  

“More than ever, we need good data and sound research to generate reliable evidence, and we need to test new ideas and emerging technologies, which is why projects such as the ones we’ve undertaken with Manchester Met are so important.” 

To read the report, click here.